Quantitative X-ray Absorption Imaging With a Broadband Source: Application to High-Intensity Discharge Lamps

Published

July 4, 2008

Author(s)

John J. Curry

Abstract

We analyze the case of x-ray absorption imaging in which the x-ray source is broadband and the detector does not provide spectral resolution. Our particular interest is in the observation of the Hg vapor distribution in high-intensity discharge lamps. When absorption by the target is small, the problem can be accurately couched in terms of a mean absorption cross-section averaged over the x-ray spectral distribution and weighted by the energy-dependent response of the detector. We test the method against a Au foil standard and then apply it to the observation of Hg vapor. The mean absorption cross-section for Hg is obtained for a Ag-anode x-ray tube at accelerating voltages of 25 kV, 30 kV, and 35 kV, and for high-intensity discharges in fused silica or poly-crystalline alumina arc tubes.

Citation

Journal of Physics D-Applied Physics

Volume

41

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

Hg, imaging, lighting, plasma, x-ray

Citation

Curry, J. (2008), Quantitative X-ray Absorption Imaging With a Broadband Source: Application to High-Intensity Discharge Lamps, Journal of Physics D-Applied Physics (Accessed October 10, 2025)